Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoEamon Queeney | DispatchMarion-Franklin’s Alijahwon Tarvin tackles Canal Winchester’s Jaquan Ransome for a loss in the Red Devils’ playoff victory last week. Tarvin, a sophomore who was voted team captain, is a key player on a defense that has limited four opponents to fewer than seven points.

When the Marion-Franklin coaching staff looked ahead to the 2012 season, coach Brian Haffele had
a mantra for his defensive staff.

"We always used to joke with our defensive coaches, ‘Keep them under 40 and our offense will
take care of it,' " Haffele said.

Like all good jokes, the phrase had more than a nugget of truth buried inside. Although the
Red Devils advanced to a state semifinal last season, they did so partially in spite of their
defense. Marion- Franklin allowed an average of 23.6 points in 2011 and surrendered 89 points in
its final two playoff games while fielding a starting unit composed entirely of seniors.

Heading into a Division II regional final tonight against New Albany, the Red Devils feature
a retooled, younger defense that has helped shoulder the load throughout the season while the
offense has dealt with injuries to a number of key players, including quarterback Corry Benson.

The resurgence started with what defensive line coach Bill Eagle described as a high level of
competition during camp.

"Replacing 11 guys, you don't really have many attitudes coming back," he said. "It was 11
fresh faces and guys always competing for a spot."

Aside from a 45-24 loss to Pickerington Central in week two that served as a wake-up call,
the Red Devils have allowed more than 21 points just once while winning the City League South
Division championship.

"Basically, our defensive motto is we try to get 11 guys to the ball, try to hit hard, create
turnovers," Eagle said. "We're very athletic, (and) athleticism can go a long way."

Marion-Franklin starts four sophomores, including Alijahwon Tarvin, who was voted captain by
his teammates. Senior defensive end Shevone Hairston has made an impact in his second year, and
Engle said the team's leading solo tackler is 150-pound free safety Jermaine Brown-Shumate.

By virtue of being named a captain, though, Tarvin takes much of the top billing.

"As a sophomore being a captain, that doesn't instill a lot of confidence, but out of a kid
like him, I'm confident in saying he's a leader on our team," Eagle said. That kid is special and
that's an understatement. I'd take 11 of him and figure out how to make him play safety."

A part-time defensive lineman as a freshman, Tar-vin said he did not see the defensive
turnaround coming when the team gathered for the preseason.

"Having so many new faces and people playing positions they'd never played before, myself
included, it was hard because you had to learn," he said. "I didn't know that we were going to be
tough. Once everybody started coming in and forming as a team, then it started clicking and we saw
that we could do it."

After the loss to Pickering-ton Central — "We got embarrassed a bit," Haffele said — the
defense righted itself one week later against Canal Winchester. Minus two offensive starters,
Marion-Franklin sputtered its way to a 3-0 halftime deficit at home. But behind a defense that
limited the Indians to 88 yards and made a goal-line stand, the Red Devils scored 28 unanswered
points.

It helped turn the tide and make believers out of the Red Devils.

"Everybody has just stepped up and played fundamental football," Tarvin said. "This year,
everybody just keeps stepping up every game."

With Benson playing running back because of injuries to teammates, the defense helped the Red
Devils grind out a 7-6 victory against Walnut Ridge in week six. With Benson out the next two
games, the Red Devils allowed 20 and 14 points, respectively, before Benson returned for a 6-0 road
victory against Eastmoor Academy.

"It's been a pleasant surprise, honestly," Haffele said of the defense. "We still have a lot
of work to do for (tonight) against a high-powered offense like New Albany has, but to this point,
they've done very well."